250 THE HISTORY OF NEWMARKET. [Book XI. 



market. Here very little progress had been made 

 with the restoration of the old palace, which was not 

 the crhost of its former self ; it still lanp-uished in ruins. 

 Indeed, the projected re-building seems to have been 

 abandoned — at least we can find no trace of any money 

 having been expended on it (except the stables and 

 gardens) during this interval. These circumstances, 

 together with other well-known domestic, financial, and 

 political occurrences, may account for Charles having 

 neglected to renew his acquaintance with Newmarket 

 during those six years. The death of his brother, the 

 Duke of Gloucester, and his sister, the Princess of 

 Orange, the Dutch war. Parliamentary affairs, and 

 the plague,* may also have conduced to the Merry 

 Monarch's absence from Newmarket during this period. 

 At any rate, the Easter holidays of the year 1666 

 revived old associations. Charles set forth for New- 

 market in March, to attend the spring meeting, in the 

 success of which he doubtless evinced considerable 

 interest, although the Twelve-Stone Plate, which had 

 been founded by him in the preceding year, was not to 

 be run for until the Autumn rdunion. Notwithstanding 

 all our researches, we have been unable to give a good 

 description of this royal visit. The contemporary 

 literature is vexatiously silent on the proceedings of 

 the king and the court ; not a single word is to be 

 found in print on the subject. And the manuscripts 

 we have consulted are but little better. However, it 

 seems that the king's journey and sojourn extended to 



* The total mortality within the year was 68,596. In London the 

 traffic on the river was suspended ; the streets became deserted, and were 

 covered with jrrass. 



